Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations

Bush, GOP Candidates Part Ways on Kids’ Insurance

There is a "juxtaposition" between President Bush's proposed funding levels for the State Children's Health Insurance Program in fiscal year 2008 and many Republican presidential candidates' proposals to expand SCHIP, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Most independent analysts say Bush's proposal would not be enough to cover the costs of the program's current enrollment. Bush also has proposed eliminating SCHIP coverage for adults, which is offered in about a dozen states.

Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) presidential campaign is considering a plan to greatly expand SCHIP by permitting automatic enrollment for any child who meets the income tests that currently are used for the federal school lunch program.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R), who won a federal waiver allowing his state to enroll parents in SCHIP, said that Bush's proposal to exclude adults from the program is "a terrible idea." Huckabee added, "If you stabilize that child's family, you are helping the child. We're not exactly doing anything good for kids where their parents can't get coverage" (Rogers, Wall Street Journal, 5/3).

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